Faculty

Re-Learning to Be Human for Global Times

International Conference of the Council of Research on
Values and Philosophy, Washington DC

Hosted by Georgetown University, Doha, Qatar
January 7-8, 2018

Within the general framework of the Council for Research in Values and Philosophy focus on "Re-Learning to be Human for Global Times: Challenges and Opportunities," the Doha conference goal is to explore the ways in which philosophy has provided, in various civilizations, not only avenues of intellectual inquiry but also spiritual and ethical means of achieving "the good life" both individually and collectively. The philosophical paradigms of Neo-Platonism, Advaita Vedānta, Daoism and Confucianism, and Islamic philosophy, among others, can provide particularly fertile grounds for such an inquiry.

Capitalizing on the etymology of the word, the conference will also be an opportunity to explore the articulation of love and desire, within the widest range of meaning of those terms, and philosophical pursuits. Presentations and discussions will converge on the various ways in which a holistic concept of philosophy is relevant to our current, environmental, spiritual and socio-economic global crisis, and provide ways to address its challenges.

The conference will address central questions such as:

What is the relationship between philosophy and contemplative practices?

How can philosophy inform religious and spiritual perspectives?

What are the ethical and spiritual contributions of philosophy to the current crisis of meaning?